Wichita eagle., 1887-02-20
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE LAW.

| To the FGltor OF tne Eagle
When this government of ours was es-
tablished the republican form was agreed
to by all its founders. But there was diff
ference of opinion as to whether the entire
people were capable of exercising the full
rights of citizenship in the election of offic ers
of the government and shaping its policies.
at large were allowed to elect the lower
house of congress, while it was provided
that the president should be elected by an
electoral college, and the senate by the leg
| slatures of the states The judges of the
supreme court being appointed by the
| president Thus it will be seen that after
the colonies established their independence
by the sword the broad principles of their
! Declaration Of Independence was set aside
by the devotees Of aristocracy. And in
the establishment Of government consist
ing OF three branches, it was only provided
that part Of one branch should be elected
directly by the people. The people Of
this country have so far demonstrated their
ability for self government that al the pres
eat time senators and the president of these
United States are practically elected by the
people 1t was just as well understood be
fore the electoral college cast their votes
that Grover Cleveland was president as it
was after the vote was counted. While
every lover Of free government will note
these evidences Of ability on the part Of the
people to govern themselves with satisfac-
ton, they will be surprised TO learn that
the Kansas legislature has discovered that
cities of 80, 600 in this state are not capa-
bic of self government, This is indeed an
alarming admission for patriots to contem-
plate. A people who viii submit to the
entertainments contemplated N this met
ropolilan police law without Il vigorous
protest are fit subjects to be ruled by a leg
islatrc who unblushingly ask the at
torney general to help them devise schemes
to pay Quantrcll raid claims, in
violation Of the constitution which they
have sworn TO support.
The great cities in this state which will be
affected by this law. have schools and
colleges and vast commercial interests.
They have great newspapers. daily and
weeklies. They have the learned lawyers
and profound jurist. They have the great
preachers and priests and bishops noted
for their learning and piety. And yet, in
the opinion of these profound statesmen
from the granger precincts and the subur-
ban hamlets, these great cities are unable
manner as will best subserve their own
temporal and spiritual welfare. 1t is not
claimed that the non enforcement Of law
by the police force of these cities has in
terrupted the religious contemplation of |
suburban hamlets or disturbed the fog |
horn snores of the sleepy districts afore-
said, SO to speak. But it is restlessness, |
unquenched desire on the part of the |
goodie good element in this state to attend |
~ pihNi l'dho p'ciutSo tudb HAS SStuiSu !
the enactment Of this law. 1t indicates |
the dawn in Kansas politics Of a new era.
The coming forward of an element
that have not breathed the spirit
of independence and freedom that in
spired the early settlers of this state. A
people who c0ntended for the right of self |
government against the organized powers
of slavery in this state never would have |
conceived the idea that the great cities
would he incompetent to regulate their own !
police force II the people Of Kansas who !
are proud of her history and who helped to
make it, do not rise up and note down the
of old worn ont theories Of |
government. proven worthless in older
States that is constantly being palmed off |
on our people as reforms, the future Of
Kansas will be less brilliant than her past
A representative Of a free people standing |
up in the legislature claiming that the great
cities of this state cannot govern them
selves, is himself the only evidence of the
inability of this great state for self govern
ment And such evidence ought to be re-
moved from public gaze by the people at
the polls. FARMER DOoLTTTLE.